Direct proof of use
Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 drones, known in Israeli service as Zik or The Spark, were used during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War. FDD's republication of Jerusalem Post reporting identified 161 Squadron Hermes 450 Zik drones as part of Israel's early response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, with pilots describing identification, tracking, surveillance, ground-force coordination, and strike missions.
Later conflict reporting identifies specific Gaza strike uses. The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli Air Force used a Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle in a February 12, 2025 strike in southern Gaza's Rafah after the IDF tracked a drone flown from Israel into Gaza. The Independent also reported that the April 2024 World Central Kitchen convoy strike in Gaza involved Hermes 450 drones, citing Campaign Against Arms Trade, Haaretz military-source reporting, and Israeli military experts.
Sources: FDD Jerusalem Post Hermes 450 Hamas War, Times of Israel Rafah Hermes 450 Strike, Independent WCK Hermes 450 Report
Timeline
The first public Hermes 450/Zik conflict-use reporting appears in the opening phase of the war. On October 20, 2023, FDD republished a Jerusalem Post article based on interviews with 161 Squadron drone pilots, placing Hermes 450 aircraft in the October 7 response and in continuing operations over Gaza.
The April 1, 2024 World Central Kitchen convoy strike became a later, separately documented Gaza incident. The IDF investigation did not name the aircraft type, but it confirmed that Israeli forces targeted three WCK vehicles in Gaza after a mistaken identification. The Independent and DIMSE attributed the strike platform to Hermes 450 reporting, while the IDF source is used here only for the official incident date and investigation context.
On February 12, 2025, the Times of Israel reported a Hermes 450 strike in Rafah during the fragile ceasefire period, after the IDF said it tracked a drone flown from Israel into southern Gaza and struck the drone and two suspects who retrieved it.
Sources: FDD Jerusalem Post Hermes 450 Hamas War, IDF WCK Investigation, Independent WCK Hermes 450 Report, DIMSE Hermes Page, Times of Israel Rafah Hermes 450 Strike
Operational role
The documented role in this conflict is Israeli operation of Hermes 450/Zik aircraft, not transfer to a new operator. The sourced missions include reconnaissance, tracking and identification of people on the ground, coordination with Israeli ground forces, and armed strikes.
The opening-war reporting emphasizes the Hermes 450's sensor and coordination role: 161 Squadron pilots described using the aircraft to build an overhead picture, distinguish threats from civilians and Israeli forces, help ground units, and conduct strikes during the October 7 attack and follow-on Gaza operations. The Rafah and WCK incidents document the strike role more directly, while leaving the exact munition type outside the public evidence used here.
Elbit describes the Hermes 450 as a tactical long-endurance UAS with EO/IR/laser and other payload options, ground-control operation, and long operational service history. Those manufacturer details explain the platform category and payload context, but the conflict-use claim rests on the conflict-specific reporting.
Sources: FDD Jerusalem Post Hermes 450 Hamas War, Times of Israel Rafah Hermes 450 Strike, Independent WCK Hermes 450 Report, Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical Drone
